Neisseria Meningitidis Research Papers

There are over 4000 people affected by bacterial meningitis and around 500 deaths from this in the US every year ("Meningitis."). 6000 cases of pneumococcal meningitis are reported in the US each year and meningococcal meningitis infects close to 2600 people in the US each year ("Meningitis."). 10-15% of these meningococcal cases are fatal, while an additional 10-15% lives with permanent

Meningococcal disease is a disease that can be found worldwide. Meningococcal disease refers to any disease or illness that is caused by the type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitides, also called meningococcus (Meningococcal disease, 2015). The first documented outbreak was over two hundred years ago in Geneva in 1805 which circulated rapidly and killed thirty three people. The first case ever recorded in America was in 1806 in Medford, Massachusetts (Fredericks, n.d.). A European physician, Professor A Weichselbaum, discovered the cause of the mysterious cerebro-spinal meningitis illness in 1887 and Penicillin was the first antibiotic used to fight the disease. In 1978 the first

Meningitis is an infectious disease that can be found within the indigenous Australian community. Incidence and prevalence, when regarding an infectious agent or disease, utilizes measurements to determine new cases and existing cases of a disease process or infectious condition. Mathematical equations are utilized in order to determine and compare the survival or recovery, and duration of diseases ( Stanhope & Lancaster, 2011).The incidence and prevalence of meningitis in the indigenous Australian people, is higher in the rural areas then in the larger regions of Australia due to lack of access to vaccinations, and compliance with treatment. As noted via the meningococcal Australia INC

Rouphael N, Stephens S (2015, March 4) Neisseria meningitidis: Biology, Microbiology and Epidemiology Retrieved from

There are thirteen serogroup classifications of Neisseria meningitidis that fall under the genus Neisseria which are closely related to Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Of the thirteen serogroups - A, B, C, D, 29E, H, I K, L, W-135, X, Y, and Z only three genetic strains have been sequenced: Z2491 from serogroup A, MC58 from serogroup B and FAM18 from serogroup C and all three of those strains contain a single circular chromosome that has a GC pair content of 51%. Several strains of this bacteria contain pili which enhances their pathogenicity giving them the purpose to adhere to surfaces, move, and transform their genetics. N. meningitidis are aerobic bacteria containing high catalase and oxidase activity. The reason for a high catalase allows them to compensate for oxidative damage in a low-pressure oxygen environment for their lack of a superoxide dismutase enzyme. Neisseria meningitidis is characterized as a parasitic, aerobic, gram-negative diplococcus that is non-endospore with a niche in the human nasopharyngeal. Its genetics consists of a surface polysaccharide capsule. In addition, their morphological colonies tend to appear smooth, moist and gleaming. The bacterium can produce gamma-glutamylamino-peptidase and typically grow on plates with

5. Describe in detail the mode of action of this antibiotic and how it would be effective in treating the microbe causing bacterial meningitis. The mode of action would be to treat for 3 to 7 days of intravenous or intramuscular with penicillin or ceftriaxone. This can also be treated with other antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, meropenem and fluoroquinolones. A person is still infectious as long as menigococci is present in oral or respiratory secretions or if they have been on effective antibiotic treatments for 24

Meningococcal Meningitis is the infection and inflammation of the meninges. Newborns and infants are at greatest risk for contracting bacterial meningitis with Neisseria meningitides being the typical pathogen in the majority of children age 2 months through 12 years (London, Ladewig, Ball, Bindler, & Cowen, 2011). There is a mortality rate of 10% for children who develop meningitis from this particular bacterium (Muller, 2013).

N. meningitidis and the diseases that it is responsible for are diagnosed by blood samples or a spinal tap to retrieve cerebrospinal fluid samples. Since the bacteria grows fastidious and is oxidase positive, it is preferred to grow it on a blood agar plate or a chocolate agar plate at temperatures ranging from 35-37 degrees Celsius. It can be identified using the Kovac’s oxidase test and if a positive result is found it should be followed with a carbohydrate utilization test. If this too shows N.meningitidis then a serological test should be performed to determine which strain is present. The strains of A, B, C, Y and W135 are the only known associated with humans and disease. Strain B is a weaker form and does not generate an adequate immune response therefore natural infection is capable of generating some immunity. It is also important in the lab testing of N. meningitidis to remember that the bacteria is capable of fermenting maltose in cultures which would set it apart from N. gonorrhoeae. It is imperative to utilize the Biosafety Level 2 to prevent contamination in lab workers. Most strains and diseases caused by N. meningitidis are treated with the administration of intravenous penicillin in a natural form. Ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin or rifampin as well as Chloramphenicol in children are used in treatment. It is also advised that anyone who may be exposed to the disease be treated with prophylactic treatment in order to prevent secondary infections. The treatment

Meningococcal Meningitis is a dangerous bacterial infection that has taken the lives of many people since it has been discovered. This particular form of meningitis can be detected by symptoms that someone experiences and can also sometimes be treated. There are now methods of prevention in order to try to avoid outbreaks from occurring. This blood borne pathogen is extremely dangerous and can greatly damage someone’s life.

In 1906 it was first discovered that horses were a viable source to make antibodies that could be used against the meningococcal bacteria. This was then further looked into and made more progress by an American scientist by the name of Simon Flexner. Flexner’s further development of the antibodies from the horses aided in the attempt to lower the mortality rate from the meningococcal disease. (1) The first reported case of using penicillin against meningitis and effectively working was not until over forty years later. Georg Joachmann, in Germany, and Flexner, in America, were the firsts to successfully treat meningitis with introduction of the serum therapy for meningococcal meningitis.

Additionally, the proportion of cases among adolescents and young adults has increased in recent years; during the year from 1992 to 1996, twenty eight (28) percent are affected were between the age of 12 and 29, this changes of rates has important implications for preventive strategies. Furthermore, meningococcal meningitis can refer to any illness or compare to any illness that is caused by the type of bacteria that is called Neisseria meningitides that is also known as meningococcus, this illness/ disease are commonly severe and includes infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord that can cause meningitis and bloodstream infections that can cause either bacteremia or septicimea. Additionally, spreading through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions like spits are commonly cause meningococcus bacteria, for example are by living in close quarters, squatters, kissing, sharing of

“College Student Dies of Fulminant Bacterial Meningitis Strain from Princeton Outbreak 24 Hours After Onset of Symptoms.” In a heartbeat, Dr. Annaliesa Anderson felt a sinking vexation, like a pebble dropped into a pool to set in motion an endless circle of ripples. Using this fuel, she conquered Meningitis B with the vaccine Trumenba. As Chief Scientific Officer for Bacterial Vaccines at Pfizer Inc., living in New Jersey, Dr. Annaliesa Anderson has traveled the globe, piloting the bacterial vaccine programs, collaborating with different companies to accelerate development processes, and has also mobilized government committees to dispense the vaccines to save lives. Her groundbreaking work has inspired me, and she relayed the knowledge of

Meningococcal disease is a life serious and life-threatening infection that is a problem amongst children and young adults. The infection is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis which is a gram negative β proteobacterium with a distinct diplcoccus morphology. This bacteria is an obligate human bacterial pathogen that normally resides in the human nasopharynx making humans the only natural reservoir. It can also be transmitted from person to person by close contact such as kissing or the simple sharing of a beverage. In most cases the bacteria doesn’t infect the host and will rarely lead to an invasive disease but factors such as the lack of immune defenses can alter this pattern. Neisseria meningitidis is the cause of the majority of cases of meningitis in the United States with children and young adults having the most impact. The United States alone sees 800-1500 cases annually. Worldwide, there are 1.2 million cases of meningococcal infections per year with a death toll of ~135,000. The rates of disease occur most frequently in newborns and children under 1 years of age. The number of incidences will decline and peak again between the ages of 15 and 25. This disease is found worldwide and has the most impact in sub-Saharan Africa where treatment isn’t readily available.

Meningococcal disease is a large concern in the medical field because it is unbiased towards the patients it infects. There has been limited success in trying to eliminate this disease. Antibiotics play a role in helping to treat patients with bacterial meningitis, and steroids have been tested to help reduce risk factors. Prevention has also become a key issue because meningitis can only be spread through direct contact with infected body fluid. The best prevention is to maintain clean hygiene. Vaccines are another way of preventing disease. However, there are multiple serogroups of meningitis that makes creating a universal vaccine extremely difficult. So far, there have only been two

During the 1990s, New Zealand experienced an epidemic of group B meningococcal disease, for which there was no